Daily News & Information about the Census & BMDs

The Difference between a Name Index and a Transcript

The difference between a name index and a transcript is that in a transcript, all the useful fields have been transferred to the database and are available to search, not just the names and ages like in an index.

Transcripts are more useful as finding aids than the simpler name indexes, as they give you more parameters to combine in your search. Transcripts also offer a useful advantage to users without Broadband who find that services based heavily on image downloads too slow to use. They minimise the number of pages you have to download and view to find the correct entry, but you should still check the original page image to confirm the accuracy of the transcript for yourself.